Jasdi, Balaton, Hungary

The wines of Jásdi, lake Balaton, Hungary
Interesting wines from István Jásdi, a winegrower in Csopak, on the north shore of Lake Balaton

Website: www.jasdipince.hu

István Jásdi is a winegrower from the Csopak region, on the northern shores of Lake Balaton, Hungary. He’s been here since 1998, when he sold his company at age 50 and decided he wanted to make wine. His love for wine stems from five years spent in Paris, at a time, he says, that no one could taste Grand Cru wines in Hungary.

His domaine was originally established in 1853, and this is when his wine cellar dates from. It used to be the personal winery of the bishop of Veszprém, János Ranolder. By the time Jásdi bought it, this once grand domaine that enjoyed a great reputation had been in steady decline for 50 years, and was practically a ruin. But with its large cellar, with metre thick walls, this property was ripe for renovation, and it’s now back to its best.

Jáasdi now has 17 hectares of vines, but says that the largest he’ll grow is the original size of the vineyard, which was 20 hectares.

Initially Jásdi employed a winemaker from the state wine company to help him, but after two years got rid of him because this wasn’t the way he wanted to go.

These wines were tasted on two separate occasions: first, visiting the domaine, and second, at the VinCe wine exhibition in Budapest.

THE WINES

Jásdi Kekfrankos Merlot Rosé 2011
Lively and crisp with some cherry fruit and herb, with some leafiness, too. Crisp and fresh. 87/100 05/12

Jásdi Csopaki Rizling 2011
Fresh and lively with citrus and tangerine notes. Very attractive. 87/100 03/13

Jásdi Csopaki Rizling 2011
Fresh, precise and fruity with lively citrus notes and some pith. Lively and pure. 86/100 05/12

Jásdi Lőczedombi Olasrizling 2009
Some 4th use oak here. Mineral and intense with subtle creamy texture and nice citrys and pear fryit, as well as a bit of pithiness, Thought-provoking testure and minerality. 89/100 05/12

Jásdi Lőczedombi Olasrizling 2011
Textured with hints of wax and nuts, and lovely rounded citrus fruit. Some spice.Nice weight here: warm and textured. 90/100 03/13

Jásdi Siralomvago Olasrizling 2009
Very nutty, waxy and rounded. Smooth and quite complex with pear and apple fruit. Satisfyingly broad, with real interest. 91/100 03/13

Jásdi Ranolder Feher Cuvée 2002
This is a blend of Furmint and Olaszrizling. Deep yellow colour. Toasty and waxy with some herby notes and lively pear and peach fruit. Quite spicy and minerally with real interest. 92/100 05/12

Jásdi Lőczedombi Szürkebarát 2009
This is a Pinot Gris, and it weighs in at 15% alcohol. Lovely fresh, clean, pure fruit with notes of grapes, melons and herbs, showing lovely purity and some nice tangerine notes. 91/100 05/12

Jásdi Berekháti Olaszrizling 2004
From 55 year old vines, selection massale. Brilliantly expressive and lively with citrus, white peach and melon fruit as well as some herb and spices. Very fruity still. 92/100 05/12

Jásdi Ranolder Vörös Cuvée 2003
A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Ripe, sweet, warm and oxidative but there’s an elegance here and fine spicy tannins. Mature but lovely. 91/100 05/12

Jásdi Csopaki Cabernet Franc 2009
Lovely mineral, stony cherry fruit, with red cherries, cherry stones and minerals. Lovely aromatics here. The palate is ripe and warm with stewed cherries and a spicy minerality. Smooth ripe and textured, this is very attractive. 92/100 03/13